State Senator Andrew Chesney (R-Freeport) is calling on Governor JB Pritzker to stop playing politics with children’s futures and immediately opt Illinois into the new federal school choice tax credit scholarship program included in President Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill.” His call to action was filed in Springfield this week as Senate Resolution 383.
This federal initiative mirrors the Invest in Kids tax credit scholarship program, which Illinois Democrats shamefully dismantled in 2023. In doing so, Democrats abandoned more than 10,000 families who relied on Invest in Kids scholarships for access to better educational opportunities.
“This federal program presents a critical opportunity to support educational freedom in Illinois without costing the state a single dime,” said Chesney. “Opting in should be an easy choice, but once again, Governor Pritzker seems more interested in appeasing teachers’ union bosses than helping kids succeed.”
The new program allows individuals to receive a 100% federal tax credit for donations to certified Scholarship Granting Organizations (SGOs). These SGOs help families pay for private school tuition, homeschooling expenses, tutoring, and more. It offers real options to working- and middle-class parents who want something better for their children.
Senator Chesney, a longtime champion of school choice, filed Senate Resolution 383 (SR 383) this week, urging the Governor to immediately notify the U.S. Department of Education of Illinois’s participation and establish a framework to certify SGOs in Illinois.
“Senate Republicans stood united in support of Invest in Kids because we believe every child deserves a chance to succeed, regardless of their ZIP code or their parents’ income,” said Chesney. “This new federal tax credit gives us a second chance to do the right thing. It’s time to put parents and students before politics.”
Chesney emphasized that the program does not impact the state budget and is funded entirely through voluntary private donations. Yet, despite its clear benefits, Governor Pritzker has refused to act.
“There is absolutely no downside to this program,” Chesney added. “The only obstacle is the Governor’s stubborn loyalty to union bosses and his refusal to embrace true educational freedom. Illinois families deserve better.”
Click here to read the resolution.
